Rest day

I packed up without making coffee. There was a gas station about .6 of a mile on the road. I biked there and got two cans of espresso. (Thanks everyone for the “coffee” fund!) I was not exactly full of energy nor was I looking forward to the ride. The man from Vancouver had told me in the next 10 miles there was 4 trees across the trail that were really hard to get around. I decided to take a rest day or a zero day. Hikers call any day that does not get them closer to their destination a zero day. Im not sure if cyclist do or not. Regardless today I was not biking! Or at least not very far.I rode back out to the cheap motel where last night I could not get a room because the computers were down. The difference in price was huge-$47 a night or $113 at the nice hotel. I was told the computers were still out and rooms were unavailable. I explained I did not need a key and I could pay cash. I just needed let into the room once. From then on if I left I would prop the door open. The lady finally agreed. She was actually really nice, and even let me check in at 11. Check in time was posted on several signs saying 3:00. I really didn’t want to have to wait 4 hours.

I got into my room and started hanging up and spreading out anything that was wet or damp. I cranked the a.c. as low as it would go which was 60 degrees.

I gathered up all my laundry and went to the lobby where they had a few washers and dryers for the guests. I was glad to use some of the change that had accumulated in my handle bar bag. Not only was it heavy, on real quiet sections I could hear it jingle. The washer was $3.50 detergent was $2.00 for a single load! I know they stank and really needed washed but that was a lot of money I thought. The dryer was also $3.50 but there was no way I was paying that to dry them.When it came time to dry them I laid them in the sun in the parking spot that would of been mine had I had a car. I was barefoot and the asphalt was so hot it hurt my feet. (By the way my blisters are healed) My clothes are quick dry fabric and everything was dry in 35 minutes. While my clothes washed I went back to my room and used the hair dryer to dry my damp sleeping bag.

Once all that was done I walked .3 of a mile to a Country Pride restaurant and had sausage gravy and biscuits with 2 eggs.

Back in my room I took the time to figure some things up.

This is day 17.

I have spent $58 on food

Millersburg motel $110. ( thats a lot but it had a jacuzzi and pool)

London hotel $54

So my food and lodging is at $223. I’m $53 dollars over my budget goal. I think if Im really carefull I can get it back on track. Money spent from the coffee fund does not count against my budget. Ill see how many days of food I have left. I know I need to resupply soon.

I have been 619 miles. Thats is only an average of 38 miles a day. Thats not very good. It will get better though!

I would like to be able to weigh myself to see if I have lost any weight. I don’t really know what to do about that. Maybe the next time I shop I’ll look for a sewing tape measure so I can measure myself.

At the gas station this morning all the old timers where talking about the storm. According to them,6.4 inches of rain fell last night most of it from 5 until 8 pm.

Somehow rest days are never very restful! The room is wonderfully cool though and feels awesome. After stuffing rolled up towels in the gaps between the door and the frame to help keep the mosquitos out, I went to bed. I realized as I was falling asleep I had never even turned on the TV